//
// VersionOperator
//
// Copyright (C) jextra.net.
//
//  This file is part of the net.jextra.dep Library.
//
//  The net.jextra.dep Library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
//  modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
//  License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
//  version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
//
//  The net.jextra.dep Library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
//  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
//  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
//  Lesser General Public License for more details.
//
//  You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
//  License along with the net.jextra.dep Library; if not, write to the Free
//  Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA
//  02111-1307 USA.
//

package net.jextra.dep.repo.version;

import java.util.*;

/**
 * <p>
 * Base class representing a version number. It knows how to  be compared to other version numbers.
 * </p>
 */
public interface VersionOperator extends Comparator<String>
{
    // ============================================================
    // Methods
    // ============================================================

    // ----------
    // public
    // ----------

    /**
     * @return The "smallest" version number (e.g. 0.0.1).
     */
    public abstract String getStartingVersionString();

    /**
     * Get next next version number given the current veresion. For example:
     * <br>
     * VersionNumber=1.2.13
     * <br>
     * It will be incremented to equal:
     * <br>
     * VersionNumber=1.2.14
     * <br>
     */
    public abstract String getNextVersionNumber( String versionNumber );
}

